Connector for neck-chains.



0. L. GAMNIELGAARD.

CONNECTOR FOR NECK CHAINS. "APPLICATION FILED mums, 1912.

Patented May 21, 1912.

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Guam

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OVE I4. GAMMELGAARD, OF ATTLEIBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC CHAIN COMPANY, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

CONNECTOR FOR NECK-CHAINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ovn L. GAMMEL- GAARD, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Attleboro, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Connectors for Neck-Chains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to chain connectors, of the class usually employed for connecting together the ends of fine gold neck chain, and the like, and has for its object to provide such a connector of simple, practical and inexpensive construction, the same comprising a housing in which is mounted a onepiece connector member of spring wire having a hook at one end and a loop at the opposite end to which the chain may be attached, and a portion of the body of said wire being bent laterally outward into a loop form extending through a corresponding opening in the edge of said housing by means of which latter loop the hook end of said wire may be forced across to overhang the end of said housing whereby a free entrance to the hook is permitted, said operating loop also serving as a convenient means on which to attach a suitable charm or locket.

An essential feature of my improved connector is that the same is made complete of but two members and that entirely without the use of solder.

WVith these and other objects in "iew, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

f the accompanying drawings: 1- is a g my improved connector with a portion of chain attached to either end, and a portion of a locket as connected to the operating loop. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my connector showing the housing in section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my connector with the housing in section, and the hook pressed outward in position to be engaged by the chain link. Fig. 4- is a detail of the wire member forming the hook at one end, loop at the other and operating loop near the middle. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the housing.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates Figure greatly enlarged View illustrating the housing which is preferably constructed of sheet metal, usually of gold, and bent around into the form of a broad band elongated in cross section with flattened sides and having its edges abutting at 11, as best illustrated in Fig. 5. The width of the band or length of the housing is sufficient to receive and properly support the spring wire connector member presently described, being opened at its ends and also provided with an opening 13 through one edge. The connector member is constructed of one continnous piece of spring wire having a body portion 14 with a hook 15 at one end, whose point 16 is bent back nearly upon the end 17 of the housing, the opposite end of the body portion being bent into the form of a loop 18 with its end 19, which is under spring tension, extending back for a short distance within the housing, leaving the inner wall 22 at the hook end of the housing free so that the portion 20 of the hook arm may be carried completely across the open end of the housing causing the same to be opened to its fullest extent for the purpose of providing a free entrance thereinto. I11 extremely small devices of this character it is found to be of great importance that the mouth of the hook should open very wide so that it may readily engage the fine links of the chain to connect their ends together. At about the middle of this body portion the wire is bent laterally into a loop 21 which loop extends outward through the opening 13 in the casing. This loop performs a double function, first it serves as a presser finger for operating the hook end of the connector member, and second, it serves the very useful purpose of providing a convenient eye to which a charm or locket 23 may be attached.

In the construction of my improved connector it will be seen that the connector member is completely formed of one piece of spring wire including the presser or operating loop which also serves as a means to which the charm or locket may be attached, thereby obviating the necessity of soldering an independent eye or loop to the housing for this particular purpose. Then again, by my improved construction it will be noted that the end of the housing forms a closure for the mouth of the hook and that the hook itself is carried outward beyond the edge of the housing whereby the maximum opening into the mouth of the hook is obtained.

In assembling the parts the housing being constructed of sheet metal the loop 21 is passed through the eye 13 and the two opposite edges of the metal are folded around the spring wire its ends abutting as at 11 in Fig. 5, the stock being of suflicient stilfness and strength to remain in position without solder or further fastening and the spring of the wire which is normally held under compression in the housing naturally holds the member in position therein. By this construction it will be seen that the device is completely made with buttwo parts and constructed and assembled entirely without the use of solder which is of great advantage in the construction of jewelry of this character.

I claim:

1. A neck chain connector comprising a housing open at each end and having an opening in one edge, a connector member of spring wire in said housing and extend ing beyond each end thereof, the same having a body port-ion with a hook whose end is bent back substantially against the housing whereby the end of the housing forms a closure for the mouth of the hook, the opposite end of said body portion being bent in a loop and returned within the housing, said body portion being bent outward between said ends into a loop extending through said opening on which a charm may be hung and by which the hook may be operated.

2. A neck chlain connector comprising a housing open at each end and having an 7 opening 1n one edge, a connector member of spring wire in said housing and extending beyond each end thereof, the same having a body portion with a hook at one end whose point is bent back substantially against the end of the housing whereby the end of the housing forms a closure for the mouth of the hook, the opposite end of said body portion being bent 1n a loop and returned a short distance wlthin the housing,

said body portion being bent outward into a loop extendlng through sa1d opening on which a charm may be hung and which may be pressed inward to force the hook point clear of the housing and permitting a free entrance to the hook.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OVE L. GAMMELGAARD.

Witnesses HOWARD E. BARLow, E. I. OGDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

